Hue Review (Nintendo Switch)

We see so many colours every day that it can be easy to take them for granted.

Can you imagine what your world would look like without them? You sit down for a gorgeous dinner of steak, potatoes and green beans and what you’ve really got is a bland, grey plate of sad, colourless blobs. Talk about disappointing. Puzzle/platformer Hue, from developer Fiddlesticks, is a vibrant adventure that encourages you to utilise the colours around you to get through obstacles and find your loved one.

Hue originally released on PC and consoles back in 2016, but has now found itself a new home on Nintendo Switch – and it couldn’t be a better fit.

In the game, you play as a young boy called Hue. He keeps receiving letters from his mother who’s gone missing. You’ll receive more letters as you play, with Hue’s mother slowly explaining concepts related to the colour spectrum and how she went missing. The world you start in is black and white, but as you play, receive more letters and progress through the game, the world steadily becomes a vivid place filled with gorgeous colour. The artwork is very reminiscent of the classic 2D platformer Limbo.

Hue is given a “color ring” that allows him to manipulate the colours in his world in order to get through obstacles in his path. For example, you may come across a long hallway with blue bricks blocking the path ahead. If you move Hue’s colour spectrum to the blue section, it fills the background of the level with blue and gets rid of the bricks so you can continue. The longer you play the game, the more colours you’ll collect until you’ve got the whole of the rainbow at your fingertips.

Other than manipulating your rainbow of colours, you’ll also be pushing and pulling boxes, jumping off obstacles and solving oodles of puzzles. When it comes to those puzzles, you’ll likely rely quite a bit on trial and error, but that’s okay. There aren’t any horrible consequences for accidentally killing Hue over and over; you’ll just start at the beginning of your current puzzle room again. This allows for players to try a puzzle in a multitude of different ways to find the solution without the pressure of a time limit or limited lives. There isn’t a tutorial in Hue and there aren’t any hints, so you just have to use your own brilliant mind to tackle this puzzler.

For completionists, Hue has some secret items to find in the game that you’ll need in order to get that 100%. There are 28 collectibles you’ll find hidden in some pretty devious nooks and crannies, but those few dedicated individuals will surely be determined to find them. For those looking to completely wipe out the game, it won’t take you more than six hours at the most. Less if you aren’t too dedicated to those pesky collectibles.

I was pleasantly surprised by Hue. Having played numerous other puzzle/platformer titles in the same vein, Fiddlesticks had some pretty big shoes to fill. But it has done a wonderful job; Hue fits right alongside the big names like Limbo or Braid, and its colourful twist on the formula helps it stand out from the crowd. With a fun, curious soundtrack and diverse levels filled with dozens of different ways to manipulate the rainbow, Hue is a charming adventure well worth diving into.

Hue is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. This review is based on the Switch version.